U.S. patent application number 12/016487 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-19 for calm capable of searching agent service through web, agent system using the same and operation method of agent system.
Invention is credited to Kee Hyun Choi, Yi Seok Jeong, Dong Uk Kim, Geon Ha Lee, Seung Hyun Lee, Sung Jun Na, DONG RYEOL SHIN, Yoe Jin Yoon.
Application Number | 20090077032 12/016487 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40455657 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090077032 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SHIN; DONG RYEOL ; et
al. |
March 19, 2009 |
CALM CAPABLE OF SEARCHING AGENT SERVICE THROUGH WEB, AGENT SYSTEM
USING THE SAME AND OPERATION METHOD OF AGENT SYSTEM
Abstract
The present invention discloses a CALM capable of the client's
determining the CALM storing a service rapidly and accurately, and
searching the service by accessing the corresponding CALM, and
service agent's preparing the base environment in which a service
agent for providing the service the Web can inform a client of the
service agent's service by enabling the client to access a
CALM-based directory facilitator through a Web server, and an agent
service using the CALM.
Inventors: |
SHIN; DONG RYEOL; (Gunpo-si,
KR) ; Lee; Geon Ha; (Samcheok-si, KR) ; Kim;
Dong Uk; (Seoul, KR) ; Na; Sung Jun; (Seoul,
KR) ; Yoon; Yoe Jin; (Gongju-si, KR) ; Jeong;
Yi Seok; (Busan, KR) ; Lee; Seung Hyun;
(Seoul, KR) ; Choi; Kee Hyun; (Suwon-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEXYOUME IP GROUP, LLC
5180 PARKSTONE DRIVE, SUITE 175
CHANTILLY
VA
20151
US
|
Family ID: |
40455657 |
Appl. No.: |
12/016487 |
Filed: |
January 18, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ;
707/999.003; 707/999.01; 707/E17.01; 707/E17.108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/951
20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/3 ; 707/10;
707/E17.108; 707/E17.01 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30; G06F 7/00 20060101 G06F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 17, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0093996 |
Claims
1. A CALM capable of searching an agent service through a Web,
comprising a Web-based directory facilitator, wherein the Web-based
directory facilitator includes: a communication module which a Web
client accesses; a registry in which the agent service is stored; a
service search module for searching the agent service which the Web
client requests from the registry; and an invocation module for
providing the agent service searched by the service search module
to the Web client through the communication module.
2. The CALM as recited in claim 1, further comprising a CALM-based
directory facilitator including a knowledge base in which the agent
service provided from a service client is stored, wherein the
service search module searches the agent service which the Web
client requests among the agent services stored in the knowledge
base in case that the agent service which the Web client requests
does not exist in the registry, and wherein the invocation module
stores the agent service searched in the knowledge base by the
service search module in the registry and provides the agent
service to the Web client through the communication module.
3. The CALM as recited in claim 1, wherein the CALM-based directory
facilitator includes a synchronization module for restoring
modified or deleted agent service in the registry in case that the
agent service stored in the knowledge base is modified or
deleted.
4. The CALM as recited in claim 2, wherein the CALM-based directory
facilitator includes a synchronization module for restoring
modified or deleted agent service in the registry in case that the
agent service stored in the knowledge base is modified or
deleted.
5. The CALM as recited in claim 1, wherein a content of a service
description object of the agent service stored in the registry is
an XML schema (eXtensible Markup Language schema)-based service
description including one or more among: a serial number given to
the agent service; a name of the agent service; location
information of the agent service for accessing the agent service; a
protocol of the agent service; information on a method of executing
the service; a category of the agent service; information on a
provider indicating a provider of the agent service; and
circumferential information of a location of the agent service.
6. The CALM as recited in claim 2, wherein a content of a service
description object of the agent service stored in the registry is
an XML schema (eXtensible Markup Language schema)-based service
description including one or more among: a serial number given to
the agent service; a name of the agent service; location
information of the agent service for accessing the agent service; a
protocol of the agent service; information on a method of executing
the service; a category of the agent service; information on a
provider indicating a provider of the agent service; and
circumferential information of a location of the agent service.
7. The CALM as recited in claim 1, wherein the Web-based directory
facilitator further includes an authentication module for
performing authentication of the Web client in case that the Web
client accesses the communication module.
8. The CALM as recited in claim 2, wherein the Web-based directory
facilitator further includes an authentication module for
performing authentication of the Web client in case that the Web
client accesses the communication module.
9. An agent system capable of searching an agent service through a
Web, comprising: a Web server which a Web client accesses; and a
CALM having a Web-based directory facilitator, wherein the
Web-based directory facilitator includes: a communication module
which a Web client accesses through the Web server; a registry in
which the agent service is stored; a service search module for
searching the agent service which the Web client requests from the
registry; and an invocation module for providing the agent service
searched by the service search module to the Web client through the
communication module.
10. The agent system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a
CALM-based directory facilitator having a knowledge base in which
the agent service provided from a service client is stored, wherein
the service search module searches the agent service which the Web
client requests among the agent services stored in the knowledge
base in case that the agent service which the Web client requests
does not exist in the registry, and wherein the invocation module
stores the agent service searched in the knowledge base by the
service search module in the registry and provides the agent
service to the Web client through the communication module.
11. The agent system as recited in claim 9, wherein the CALM-based
directory facilitator includes a synchronization module for
restoring modified or deleted agent service in the registry in case
that the agent service stored in the knowledge base is modified or
deleted.
12. The agent system as recited in claim 10, wherein the CALM-based
directory facilitator includes a synchronization module for
restoring modified or deleted agent service in the registry in case
that the agent service stored in the knowledge base is modified or
deleted.
13. The agent system as recited in claim 9, wherein a content of a
service description object of the agent service stored in the
registry is an XML schema (eXtensible Markup Language schema)-based
service description including one or more among: a serial number
given to the agent service; a name of the agent service; location
information of the agent service for accessing the agent service; a
protocol of the agent service; information on a method of executing
the service; a category of the agent service; information on a
provider indicating a provider of the agent service; and
circumferential information of a location of the agent service.
14. The agent system as recited in claim 10, wherein a content of a
service description object of the agent service stored in the
registry is an XML schema (eXtensible Markup Language schema)-based
service description including one or more among: a serial number
given to the agent service; a name of the agent service; location
information of the agent service for accessing the agent service; a
protocol of the agent service; information on a method of executing
the service; a category of the agent service; information on a
provider indicating a provider of the agent service; and
circumferential information of a location of the agent service.
15. The agent system as recited in claim 13, wherein plural CALMs
are prepared, and wherein the Web server includes: a storing unit
in which a service list prepared by being based on a service
description of the agent service stored in the registry is stored;
a communication unit for allowing communication between the
communication module of the Web-based directory facilitator and the
Web client; and a control unit for displaying the service list to
the Web client, allowing the Web client to access any one of the
plural CALMs by the communication unit, and updating the service
list stored in the storing unit on the basis of whether or not the
agent system searched by the service search module exists or the
service description of the agent service provided to the Web client
by the invocation module.
16. The agent system as recited in claim 14, wherein plural CALMs
are prepared, and wherein the Web server includes: a storing unit
in which a service list prepared by being based on a service
description of the agent service stored in the registry is stored;
a communication unit for allowing communication between the
communication module of the Web-based directory facilitator and the
Web client; and a control unit for displaying the service list to
the Web client, allowing the Web client to access any one of the
plural CALMs by the communication unit, and updating the service
list stored in the storing unit on the basis of whether or not the
agent system searched by the service search module exists or the
service description of the agent service provided to the Web client
by the invocation module.
17. The agent system as recited in claim 9, wherein the Web-based
directory facilitator further includes an authentication module for
performing authentication of the Web client in case that the Web
client accesses the communication module through the Web
server.
18. The agent system as recited in claim 10, wherein the Web-based
directory facilitator further includes an authentication module for
performing authentication of the Web client in case that the Web
client accesses the communication module through the Web
server.
19. A method of operating the agent system capable of searching the
agent service through the Web as recited in claim 9, comprising the
steps of: accessing a Web server by a Web client; displaying a
service list prepared by being based on a service description of
the agent service to the Web client by the Web server; accessing a
CALM in which the agent service to be requested by the Web client
is stored by the Web client; searching the agent service which the
Web client requests in the registry by the service search module;
and providing the agent service which the Web client requests,
stored in the registry to the Web client through the communication
module by an invocation module.
20. The method of operating the agent system as recited in claim
19, further comprising the steps of: preparing a CALM-based
directory facilitator having a knowledge base in which the agent
service provided from a service client is stored; searching the
agent service which the Web client requests in the knowledge base
in case that the agent service which the Web client requests does
not exist in the registry in view of a search result by the service
search module; and storing the agent service searched in the
knowledge base by the service search module in the registry and
providing the agent service to the Web client through the
communication module by the invocation module.
21. The method of operating the agent system as recited in claim
19, further comprising the steps of: preparing the CALMs in
multiple; storing the service list prepared by being based on the
service description of the agent service stored in the registry of
the plural CALMs in the Web server; displaying the service list to
the Web client accessing the Web server; accessing any one
communication module in which the agent service which the Web
client requests is stored among the CALMs through the Web server;
and updating the service list stored in the service description on
the basis of whether or not the agent system searched by the
service search module exists or the service description of the
agent service provided to the Web client by the invocation
module.
22. The method of operating the agent system as recited in claim
20, further comprising the steps of: preparing the CALMs in
multiple; storing the service list prepared by being based on the
service description of the agent service stored in the registry of
the plural CALMs in the Web server; displaying the service list to
the Web client accessing the Web server; accessing any one
communication module in which the agent service which the Web
client requests is stored among the CALMs through the Web server;
and updating the service list stored in the service description on
the basis of whether or not the agent system searched by the
service search module exists or the service description of the
agent service provided to the Web client by the invocation
module.
23. The method of operating the agent system as recited in claim
19, further comprising the step of: performing authentication of
the Web client in case that the Web client accesses the Web
server.
24. The method of operating the agent system as recited in claim
20, further comprising the step of: performing authentication of
the Web client in case that the Web client accesses the Web
server.
25. The method of operating the agent system as recited in claim
19, further comprising the step of: restoring modified or deleted
agent service in the registry in case that the agent service stored
in the knowledge base is modified or deleted.
26. The method of operating the agent system as recited in claim
20, further comprising the step of: restoring modified or deleted
agent service in the registry in case that the agent service stored
in the knowledge base is modified or deleted.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a CALM capable of searching
an agent service through Web, an agent system using the same and an
operation method of the agent system; and, more particularly, to a
CALM to provide a base environment capable of searching a desired
service more rapidly and conveniently by enabling a client to
access a Web-based directory facilitator through a Web server, an
agent system using the same and an operation method of the agent
system.
[0003] 2. Background of the Related Art
[0004] An Internet environment based on Web has allowed users to
use various on-line services through networks. Moreover, a
computing environment also has been rapidly changed and many
technologies related to the networks have been consistently
researched.
[0005] Herein, on the background of continuously developing many
technologies related to the networks, a distributed computing
environment based on the network exist; a Web service based on
SOAP, COBRA and Java RMI has been researched; and further reached
to a GRID computing.
[0006] Herein, one of fields in which a research has been actively
progressed for the distributed computing environment is just agent
field.
[0007] Researches on an agent, an agent platform, and a mobile
agent have been already established through a lot of discussions. A
plurality of agent platforms have been researched on the basis of
technologies related to construction of an agent service
infrastructure and a research on development of an agent-based
context-aware service also has been actively progressed in
recent.
[0008] These researches give an advance notice of an agent age in
which all the jobs will be processed by the agent and services
provided by the agent will be used, in the near future.
[0009] Herein, the agent is software for actively performing a
desired job in behalf of a client. An intelligent agent is software
for devising a plan so that the plurality of agents can most
efficiently meet a client's requirement in cooperation with each
other to realize the plan.
[0010] Herein, the intelligent agent needs a function of grasping a
client's taste and performing the same so as to offer a result
suitable for the client's taste.
[0011] Accordingly, a multi-agent system in which one agent
provides the service to the client in mutual cooperation with other
agents should be able to provide a constant and consistent service
support under any circumstances. Furthermore, the multi-agent
systems should rapidly provide high-reliability information to meet
a client's requirement in mutual cooperation with each other.
[0012] In this agent technology, it is important that the client
searches a desired service in person, and judges and acts through
interagent communication to provide a service suitable for a
client's current status.
[0013] When the agent needs other agents' helps during carrying out
a job on the multi-agent systems, the agent continues to provide
the service depending on message communication among the agents by
the use of an ACL (Agent Communication Language). Accordingly, in
the multi-agent systems, each of the service agents advertise their
own services by registering the services in a DF (Directory
Facilitator) of a CALM (Component-based Autonomic Layered
Middleware) which is a message-oriented middleware. The client can
search information on the client's desired service through the
directory facilitator.
[0014] A general CALM is a middleware prepared for providing a base
environment in which an agent's service generated at the agent
platform from being supplied by a service agent is identified,
registered, and stored, and the stored service can be searched by
the client.
[0015] Accordingly, when a client searches desired service by
accessing the CALM in person, the client sends an ACL-based message
of a search request to a CALM-based directory facilitator through a
message transport system including an AMS (Agent Management
System). The CALM-based director facilitator searches another agent
service according to the search request message by parsing the
search request message and extracting a content message. When the
search is completed, a search result according to the search
request message is converted into the ACL-based message and is
transmitted to the client through the message transport system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0016] However, it could not be confirmed whether or not a client's
desired service was stored in a known CALM at the time of searching
a service through the known CALM. That is, since the client should
confirm whether or not the client's desired service was stored by
accessing plural CALMs one by one at the time of searching the
service through the known CALM, there was a problem that a search
time is increased.
[0017] Moreover, the known CALM had a problem that the client
should correct parameters corresponding to a service to be searched
on a code to search the service and the client needed a general
knowledge related to the multi-agent system to search the service
provided by the service agent.
[0018] Since the client could not easily determine the CALM storing
the service provided by the service agent for providing the service
to store the service in the CALM, the service agent could not
inform the clients of the service agent's service.
[0019] Therefore, it is, therefore, an object of the present
invention to provide a CALM capable of the client's determining the
CALM storing the service rapidly and accurately, and service
agent's preparing base environment in which the service agent for
providing the service through the Web can inform the client of the
service agent's service by enabling the client to access the
CALM-based directory facilitator through a Web server, and an agent
service using the CALM.
Technical Solution
[0020] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object of the
present invention, in accordance with a first aspect of the
invention, a CALM capable of searching an agent service through a
Web includes a Web-based directory facilitator having a
communication module which a Web client accesses, a registry in
which the agent service is stored, a service search module for
searching the agent service which the Web client requests from the
registry, and an invocation module for providing the agent service
searched by the service search module to the Web client through the
communication module.
[0021] Herein, the CALM further includes a CALM-based directory
facilitator having a knowledge base in which the agent service
provided from a service client is stored, wherein the service
search module can search the agent service which the Web client
requests among the agent services stored in the knowledge base in
case that the agent service which the Web client requests does not
exist in the registry, and wherein the invocation module can store
the agent service searched in the knowledge base by the service
search module in the registry and provide the agent service to the
Web client through the communication module.
[0022] Herein, the CALM-based directory facilitator can include a
synchronization module for restoring modified or deleted agent
service in the registry in case that the agent service stored in
the knowledge base is modified or deleted.
[0023] A content of a service description object of the agent
service stored in the registry can be an XML schema (eXtensible
Markup Language schema)-based service description including one or
more among a serial number given to the agent service, a name of
the agent service, location information of the agent service for
accessing the agent service, a protocol of the agent service,
information on a method of executing the service, a category of the
agent service, information on a provider indicating a provider of
the agent service, and circumferential information of a location of
the agent service.
[0024] Herein, the Web-based directory facilitator can further
include an authentication module for performing authentication of
the Web client in case that the Web client accesses the
communication module.
[0025] Meanwhile, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object of
the present invention, in accordance with a second aspect of the
present invention, an agent system capable of searching the agent
service through the Web includes a Web server which a Web client
accesses and a CALM having a Web-based directory facilitator,
wherein the Web-based directory facilitator includes a
communication module which a Web client accesses, a registry in
which the agent service is stored, a service search module for
searching the agent service which the Web client requests from the
registry, and an invocation module for providing the agent service
searched by the service search module to the Web client through the
communication module.
[0026] Herein, the agent system further includes the CALM-based
directory facilitator having a knowledge base in which the agent
service provided from a service client is stored, wherein the
service search module can search the agent service which the Web
client requests among the agent services stored in the knowledge
base in case that the agent service which the Web client requests
does not exist in the registry, and wherein the invocation module
can store the agent service searched in the knowledge base by the
service search module in the registry and provide the agent service
to the Web client through the communication module.
[0027] Herein, the CALM-based directory facilitator can include a
synchronization module for restoring modified or deleted agent
service in the registry in case that the agent service stored in
the knowledge base is modified or deleted.
[0028] A content of a service description object of the agent
service stored in the registry is an XML schema (eXtensible Markup
Language schema)-based service description including one or more
among a serial number given to the agent service, a name of the
agent service, location information of the agent service for
accessing the agent service, a protocol of the agent service,
information on a method of executing the service, a category of the
agent service, information on a provider indicating a provider of
the agent service, and circumferential information of a location of
the agent service.
[0029] Herein, plural CALMs are prepared, and the Web server can
include a storing unit in which a service list prepared based on a
service description of the agent service stored in the registry of
the plural CALMs is stored, a communication unit for allowing
communication between the communication module of the Web-based
directory facilitator and the Web client, and a control unit for
displaying the service list to the Web client, allowing the Web
client to access any one of the plural CALMs by the communication
unit, and updating the service list stored in the service
description on the basis of whether or not the agent system
searched by the service search module exists or the service
description of the agent service provided to the Web client by the
invocation module.
[0030] The Web-based directory facilitator can further include an
authentication module for performing authentication of the Web
client in case that the Web client accesses the communication
module through the Web server.
[0031] Meanwhile, in order to achieve the above-mentioned objects,
in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a
method of operating the agent system capable of searching the agent
service through the Web includes the steps of accessing a Web
server by the Web client; displaying a service list prepared based
on a service description of the agent service to the Web client by
the Web server; accessing a CALM in which the agent service to be
requested by the Web client is stored by the Web client; searching
the agent service which the Web client requests in the registry by
the service search module; and providing the agent service which
the Web client requests, stored in the registry to the Web client
through the communication module by an invocation module.
[0032] Herein, the method of operating the agent system can further
include the steps of preparing a CALM-based directory facilitator
having a knowledge base in which the agent service provided from a
service client is stored; searching the agent service which the Web
client requests in the knowledge base in case that the agent
service which the Web client requests does not exist in the
registry in view of a search result by the service search module;
and storing the agent service searched in the knowledge base by the
service search module in the registry by the invocation module and
providing the agent service to the Web client through the
communication module by the invocation module.
[0033] Herein, the method of operating the agent system can further
include the steps of preparing the CALMs in multiple; storing the
service list prepared based on the service description of the agent
service stored in the registry of the plural CALMs in the Web
server; displaying the service list to the Web client accessing the
Web server; accessing any one communication module in which the
agent service which the Web client requests among the CALMs through
the Web server by the Web client; and updating the service list on
the basis of whether or not the agent system searched by the
service search module exists or the service description of the
agent service provided to the Web client by the invocation
module.
[0034] The method of operating the agent system can further include
the step of performing authentication of the Web client in case
that the Web client accesses the Web server.
[0035] The method of operating the agent system can further include
the step of restoring modified or deleted agent service in the
registry in case that the agent service stored in the knowledge
base is modified or deleted.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0036] As described above, in accordance with the present
invention, since a client can rapidly and conveniently determine a
CALM in which a service is stored by accessing a CALM-based
directory facilitator in which a service requested through a Web
server is stored without confirming whether or not the service
exists by accessing plural CALMs. Since the client can search the
service by accessing the corresponding CALM, a search time can be
remarkably shortened.
[0037] In accordance with the present invention, the service can be
searched by accessing the CALM-based directory facilitator in which
the service requested through the Web server is stored without a
professional knowledge about a multi-agent platform.
[0038] In accordance with the present invention, since a service
agent which provides a service in which an agent service is stored
in the CALM can advertise the service provided by itself to the
client, the client can recognize and search more various kinds of
services.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a constitution diagram showing a
configuration of an agent system using a CALM capable of searching
an agent service through a Web in accordance with the present
invention;
[0040] FIG. 3 is a constitution diagram showing a configuration of
the CALM capable of searching the agent service through the Web in
accordance with the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a DF agent
description of the agent service;
[0042] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an XML schema-based service
description belonging to the DF agent description in accordance
with the present invention; and
[0043] FIG. 6 is a flow chart for an operation method of the agent
system using the CALM capable of searching the agent service
through the Web in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0044] Hereinafter, a CALM capable of searching an agent through a
Web in accordance with the present invention, an agent service
using the same, and an operation method of an agent system will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0045] Prior to the description, an agent service provider is
defined as `a service client`, a client searching an agent service
by accessing a CALM-based DF to be described later in person is
defined as `a user client`, and a client searching the agent
service by accessing a Web-based DF through a Web server is defined
as `a Web client`.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the agent system using a CALM
100 having a Web-based directory facilitator for searching an agent
service in accordance with the present invention includes the CALM
100 having a CALM-based directory facilitator (hereinafter,
referred to as `a CALM-based DF`) 110, a Web-based directory
facilitator (hereinafter, referred to as `a Web-based DF`) 120 and
a message transport system 130, and a Web server 200.
[0047] The CALM provides an optimal flexibility and an optimal
efficiency of an agent platform as a self-control context-aware
community middleware. The directory facilitator which is a
component of the CALM is an agent serving as a yellow page and
serves as a storage storing services provided by agents activated
in an agent platform.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, the CALM-based DF 110 includes a DF
adapter 111, a DF function module 114 and a knowledge base 119.
[0049] The DF adapter 111 includes a parser 112 and a converter
113.
[0050] The parser 112, as a module for processing an ACL which is a
communication language for interagent communication, is constituted
of an ACL message parser that receives, parses and controls an ACL
message transmitted from the message transport system 130 to be
described later, and a content message parser that parses a content
message containing an actual service description among parsed ACL
messages.
[0051] The converter 113 is constituted of a content message
composer for composing the content message with the service
description of a service searched by a search 117 to be described
later.
[0052] The DF function module 114 is prepared to register, to
deregister, to modify and to search the service in the knowledge
base 119. The DF function module 114 controls the knowledge base
119 while being in direct communication with the knowledge base 119
which is the service storage.
[0053] A Register 115a performs a function of registering a DF
agent description including a new service description in the
knowledge base 119.
[0054] That is, when the agent prepares a description of its own
service, the registers stores the DF agent description in the
knowledge base 119. At this time, an AID (Agent ID) of the agent
and the service description are stored in the knowledge base 119 as
Key and Value, respectively.
[0055] A Deregister 115a performs a deregistering function of
removing the DF agent description stored in the knowledge base 119
according to a service agent's request.
[0056] A method of deleting a service description which is a
corresponding value by searching the AID of the agent is used as a
method of deregistering a specific DF agent description.
[0057] A Modify 116 performs a function of modifying the DF agent
description stored in the knowledge base 119 according to an agent`
request.
[0058] In the service modification, the service agent prepares a DF
agent description of a format which the service agent desires to
modify and a service description template so as to modify the
service description to search and delete the DF agent description
having the AID of the corresponding agent in the knowledge base
119, and newly registers the DF agent description prepared by the
agent.
[0059] A Search 117 can request the DF to search one or more agents
to meet a user client's requirement. An agent which desires to the
service prepares the service description of a target service to be
searched and searches the service by comparing the service
description with the service description of the DF agent
description stored in the knowledge base 119.
[0060] A search result is returned in an array format of the DF
agent description. The service can be searched by selectively
assigning attributes including a service name, a type, protocol,
ontology, a language, a property, an owner, an AID, and the like
for the service to be searched.
[0061] A synchronization module 118 restores a modified or
deregistered agent service in a register 125 to be described later
in case that the agent service stored in the knowledge base 119 is
modified or deregistered.
[0062] The knowledge base 119 is a storage for storing the DF agent
description 140 for the service provided by the service agent. The
knowledge base 119 uses a Hash map structure in which the service
description is stored in correspondence with a key value by setting
the agent ID as the key value.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 3, the Web-based DF 120 includes registry,
AP-to-Web communication, service search and service invocation.
[0064] The AP-to-Web communication (hereinafter, referred to as "a
communication module 121") attempts connection between the Web
client and an application of the Web-based DF 120.
[0065] And, a service search (hereinafter, referred to as "a
service search module 123") searches a service which the Web client
requests in the Registry (hereinafter, referred to as "a registry
125").
[0066] Herein, the service search module 123 searches the agent
service which the Web client requests among the agent services
stored in the knowledge base 119 and stores the searched agent
service in the registry 125 in case that the agent service which
the Web client requests does not exist in the registry 125.
[0067] Previously searched agent service is stored in the Registry
125 so as to more conveniently and rapidly search the agent service
which the Web client previously requested in the future.
[0068] The service invocation (hereinafter, referred to as "an
invocation module 124") provides the agent service searched by the
service search module 123 to the Web client through the
communication module 121.
[0069] The Web-based DF 120 may include Authentication
(hereinafter, referred to as "an authentication module 122"). The
authentication module 122 performs the authentication of the Web
client and assures consistent connection of the authenticated Web
client when the Web client accesses the communication module
121.
[0070] The message transport system 130 is a communication system
for allowing the user client which desires to search the agent
service by directly accessing the CALM 100 rather than passing
through the service client or the Web server 200 to access the
CALM-based DF 110.
[0071] The message transport system 130 includes an AMS (Agent
Management System) 131, an ACL message broker 132 and a JNI module
133. The components are apparent to those skilled in the art, and
thus description thereof will be omitted.
[0072] The Web server 200 allows the Web client to access the
Web-based DF 120 on a Web by the use of terminals such as a
desktop, a notebook, and the like.
[0073] Herein, plural CALMs 100 are prepared and the agent services
stored in the CALMs 100 may be different from each other.
[0074] Accordingly, the Web server 200 allows the Web client to
access the CALM 100 in which the agent service requested by the Web
client who is accessing the CALM through the Web server 200 is
stored by storing agent service lists stored in the registries 125
of the plural CALMs 100.
[0075] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the Web server 200 includes a
communication unit 210, a control unit 220 and a storing unit
230.
[0076] The communication unit 210 allows communication between the
communication module 121 of the Web-based DF 120 and the Web
client.
[0077] The storing unit 230 stores the service lists prepared by
being based on service descriptions 143 of the agent services
stored in the registries 125 of the plural CALMs 100.
[0078] The control unit 220 displays the service lists stored in
the storing unit 230 to the Web client when the Web client accesses
the communication unit 210 of the Web server 200.
[0079] At this time, when the Web client referring to the service
lists selects any one among the plural CALMs 100, the control unit
220 allows the Web client to access the CALM 100 selected through
the communication unit 210.
[0080] In case that an agent service search result performed by the
service search module 123 does not exist, the control unit 220
updates the service lists according to the corresponding result at
the time of transferring the corresponding result to the Web
client.
[0081] The content of the corresponding agent service may be
slightly modified at the time of providing the searched agent
service to the Web client by the use of the invocation module 124.
Accordingly, the control unit 220 can update the service lists on
the basis of the service description of the agent service provided
to the Web client so as to provide the accurate service lists.
[0082] FIG. 4 shows a structure of the DF agent description of the
agent service stored in the knowledge base 119. The DF agent
description 140, as the description of the agent providing the
service, is constituted of parameters such as the AID which is the
agent ID, a service description object, the used protocol, the used
ontology and the used communication language.
[0083] The DF agent description 140 is a message format to meet an
FIPA standard specification. The AID and the DF agent description
140 are stored in the knowledge base 119 in pairs.
[0084] A service description object 141, as the service description
object belonging to the DF agent description 140, is constituted of
parameters such as the service name, the service type, the used
protocol, the used ontology, the service owner and the attribute.
The service description is stored in the knowledge base 119 with
belonging to the DF agent description 140.
[0085] FIG. 5 shows the service description 143 in which a content
142 of the service description object 141 belonging to the DF agent
description 140 in accordance with the present invention is
converted based on an XML schema.
[0086] The service agent constitutes the description of the agent
service provided by itself by the XML schema-based service
description 143 in the DF agent description 140.
[0087] Parameters belonging to the service description 143 includes
Num indicating a serial number given to the agent service,
ServiceName indicating the service name, Accesslocation indicating
a location of the agent service for accessing the agent service in
an IP address or a port number, Protocol of the service, Ref=Method
indicating a current state at the time of invocating the
corresponding agent service, Categor indicating a category to which
the corresponding service belongs, Ref=Vender indicating a provider
providing the corresponding service, and Ref=LocationInfo
indicating a location in a physical space or a logical space where
the corresponding agent service is located.
[0088] Hereinafter, the operation method of the agent system using
the CALM capable of searching the agent service through the Web in
accordance with the present invention will be described with
reference to FIG. 6.
[0089] When the Web client accesses the Web server 200 (S1), the
control unit 220 of the Web server 220 displays the service lists
stored in the storing unit 230 to the Web client (S2).
[0090] Herein, the Web client referring to the service lists
selects the CALM 100 in which the corresponding agent service is
stored (S3).
[0091] Herein, even though an desired agent service does not exist
in the service lists, the Web client may select the CALM 100 in
which plural similar agent services are stored.
[0092] The control unit 220 of the Web server 200 allows the Web
client to access the communication module 121 of the CALM 100
selected by the Web client through the communication unit 210
(S4).
[0093] The Web client accessing the communication module 121 of the
CALM 100 is authenticated by the authentication module 122 (S5) and
the agent service which the Web client requests is searched in the
registry 125 by the service search module 123 (S6).
[0094] Herein, in case that the desired agent service is searched
in the registry 125, the invocation module 124 provides the agent
service which the Web client requests stored in the registry 125 to
the Web client through the communication module 121 (S8).
[0095] The control unit 220 of the Web server 200 updates the
service lists on the basis of the service description of the agent
service provided to the Web client (S9).
[0096] Meanwhile, in a step S7, in case that the agent service
which the Web client requests does not exist in the registry 125 in
view of the search result by the service search module 123, the
service search module 123 searches the agent service which the Web
client requests in the knowledge base 119 of the CALM-based DF 110
(S10).
[0097] Herein, when the agent service is searched in the knowledge
base 119 by the service search module 123 (S31), the invocation
module 124 store the corresponding agent service in the registry
125 and provides the communication module 121 to the Web client
(S8). In this case, since the corresponding agent service is newly
stored in the registry 125, the control unit 220 of the Web server
200 updates the service lists on the basis of the service
description of the corresponding agent service (S9).
[0098] Meanwhile, when the agent service which the Web client
requests is not searched in the knowledge base 119 (S11) after the
step S10, the service search module 123 informs the Web client of
the search result that the corresponding agent service does not
exist through the communication module 121 (S13).
[0099] Next, the Web client designates the attributes such as the
service name, type, protocol, ontology, language, property, owner,
AID, content, and the like of a target agent service which the Web
client requests by accessing the Web-based DF 120 through the Web
server 200 to rapidly search the CALM 100 in which the agent
service is stored by each condition.
[0100] Since the attributes can be selectively inputted and
searched through a Web browser, it is possible to obtain a visible
effect for the agent service which the Web client desires only with
an abbreviate selection function for the attributes without a
detailed description for inputting a message related to an existing
service request.
[0101] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that various changes and modification of the
embodiments may be made without departing from the principle and
spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention
is defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.
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